Trains Block Only Trans-Siberian Crossing in Perm, Causing Pedestrian Jams
After a long wait, pedestrians cross the tracks without waiting for the green traffic light signal.
In Perm, on Kosmonavtov Highway near «Morion», an overpass was closed for a two-year reconstruction. The old structure is being demolished, so pedestrians have to bypass it. Now, residents of Perm are complaining about problems with the nearest crossing over the Trans-Siberian Railway. We look into why the problems arose and if anything can be done about it.
Warning signs about the danger stand in front of the crossing.
«The only pedestrian crossing at the »1436 kilometer« stop is blocked by a freight train; we waited 20 minutes. Some people are late for work or school. This isn»t the first time this has happened, and the weather isn«t great,» lamented 59.RU reader Anna.
The last car had moved 100 meters away, and a crowd of pedestrians had already completely occupied the crossing.
The «1436 kilometer» stop is located on a bend of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Visibility from both sides is limited to 200-300 meters. The crossing over the tracks is equipped with a traffic light and audible signal. However, most pedestrians ignore the prohibition and cross the tracks if they don«t see an approaching train. During train passage, a jam of pedestrians accumulates in front of the crossing even on weekdays.
Issues with the crossing over the Trans-Siberian Railway at the «1436 kilometer» stop were commented on by the press service of the Sverdlovsk Railway (SZhD).
We asked SZhD about the reasons for trains stopping in the middle of the pedestrian crossing, but 59.RU did not receive an answer. However, they explained why the traffic light might be red even if no train is visible.
«The prohibiting signal for pedestrians is activated when a train approaches the boundary of the »notification section«. At this moment, the train may be out of sight, but this distance is necessary so the train can emergency stop in case of an abnormal situation at the crossing,» explained 59.RU in SZhD. «The red light will turn off when the train completely passes the »removal section« and the track is clear in both directions.»
Railway workers ask residents of Perm not to cross the tracks on a prohibiting traffic light signal.
«On the section, turns limit visibility. It»s important for pedestrians to be patient and not put their lives at unjustified risk,« said 59.RU in SZhD.
Earlier we reported that after the closure of Kosmonavtov Highway, daily traffic jams form on Gaidar Square.
